Cytrus

BIOGRAPHY

Cytrus' eight-piece, synth-driven sound, replete with soaring guitar solos, wailing sax and percussion galore makes a place at the table for everyone.

Shaped by Jared Squires (guitar/vocals), Luke Nevills (bass/keys), Brandon Hailey (saxophone), Owen Mayo (guitar/keys), Trevor Church (drums), Connor Merritt (aux percussion) Alex Dean (synth/keys), and Sean Connelly (vocals/keys), the octet offers a powerful psychedelic pallet of funk, soul, disco, electronic, rock & roll, hip-hop, prog rock and more.

Cytrus' humble beginnings grew out of a shared storage unit in Everett, WA, where two bands HopSol and Bunk Foss would rehearse. Enduring freezing winters and sweat-drenched summers, the love of sonic exploration fueled their curiosity and passion. But that all changed one day when the city of Everett appointed a new Fire Marshall who considered the space unfit for bands. It was time for them to leave. In the face of uncertainty, the two bands decided to close that chapter with a ceremonial group jam. Uncertain of what the future held, they plugged in their instruments and did what they knew best; they played music. Little did they know that being uprooted would allow something bigger and better to blossom in its place. Something far juicier. And so, Cytrus was born. But what happened next would launch the newly fused band onto the scene.

In May 2019, Cytrus competed in and won the Summer Meltdown Showdown and an opportunity to perform at Summer Meltdown Festival. Finally, the band had their shot. With their midday set falling on Sunday (8/4/2019), the Saturday prior was filled with excitement and giddy anticipation. Cytrus just couldn’t wait that long! As the Main Stage closed down, festival-goers scattered, in search of more music, fun, adventure. Cytrus seized the moment. In the Sensorium Dome, a tingling attraction of glowing lights and high vibes, there was a lone piano. Cytrus brought in a bass amp, a mixer and their instruments and threw down an impromptu “renegade” jam. Hundreds of people flocked in, filling the Dome. This would henceforth be known as “Dome Jam”. It was a moment that would live on in the fanlore of Cytrus' origin and follow the band for years to come, with fans lauding “I saw you in the Dome!”

Cytrus has continued to expand their reach. Having left their mark in the hearts and minds of festival goers, Cytrus was invited back to the post-pandemic return of Summer Meltdown Festival in 2022, providing direct support to STS9 on the festival Main Stage. Later that fall they were flown in to headline night one at the beloved Joshua Tree Music Festival. Since then, they’ve become a fixture of the Re/ Evolution Festival, having headlined all three nights of the event for 3 years in a row (2023-25), leaving an impression on those curious enough to catch a groove along the way.

The Seattle-based band is personalized by their juicy synths, bass-induced grooves, and dynamic live performances. Cytrus is best known for their flowing transitions, powerful sound and undeniable chemistry - all of which you can hear on full display in Cytrus' debut LP Concentrate and upcoming sophomore LP Duality.

If you get curious along the way, venture out and catch a groove.